Child Self Esteem - Things We Can Do Today to Help All Kids

MAKE EACH CASUAL INTERACTION WITH CHILDREN A SELF ESTEEM BUILDING OPPORTUNITY

Meaningful everyday interactions and child self esteem building opportunties are everywhere you go. That child sitting in the shopping cart ahead of you in the checkout line would appreciate a friendly smile and a sincere compliment. The child next to you buying ice-cream could really get a self esteem boost if you asked her opinion about what flavor she thought was the tastiest. Find inspiration on how to spontaneously create self esteem building encounters with children everywhere you go.

BECOME A CHILD MENTOR

There are numerous volunteer programs for mentoring children. Here is a Mentor a Child list of programs, clubs, and ideas for mentoring on your own -- from Big Brother/Sister, to Junior Achievement, to Points of Light, to Job Shadow (inspire a child by letting him/her some spend time with you at work to get an inside look and feel for what your professional entails) and much more. Find your style of mentoring, there is something uniquely valuable only you can contribute to building child self esteem and that legacy will last for generations.

JOIN THE WATCHFUL FOR ABDUCTED CHILDREN

Studies show that a child's greatest chance for rescue is within three hours of an abduction. This wireless alert program was started in 2006 to increase the number of people who may be able to help in locating an abducted child. Simply register your cell phone and text messages will be sent to you with the missing child's details as soon as a child goes missing in your area. Join the Cell Phone AMBER ALERT System for Missing Children in Your Area

MAKE A HELPFUL CALL FOR CHILDREN OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Stop It Now! is a National Helpline (1.888.PREVENT) has provided a confidential place for thousands of people to speak about a subject that they thought was unspeakable. We offer a chance for adults to voice their personal fears about their own or someone else’s sexualized thoughts or behavior toward children. Often our callers indicate that they have never spoken these words out loud before.

With guidance from our professional staff, adults can learn about sexual abuse; identify specialized treatment options for themselves or someone they care about; develop prevention and safety plan strategies; find language for an effective conversation when they have concerns, and learn how to report those concerns to authorities when appropriate.

MAKE A HELPFUL CALL FOR CHILDREN OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT

A lot of people don't realize it, but every day in the United States thousands of kids are abused and neglected. That adds up to millions of kids each year.

Often children and teens are abused or neglected by the people who are closest to them like family, friends, sitters, neighbors and sometimes even teachers and coaches. These are the very people that children should feel the safest with.

If you need help or have questions about child abuse or child neglect, call The Childhelp Hotline. This help line is staffed by degreed, professional counselors who are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. All calls are anonymous and toll-free in United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico. Communication in 140 languages is available through state-of-the-art technology that allows three-way conversations between the Hotline counselor, the caller, and a professional translator. CALL 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) Then Push 1 to Talk to a Hotline Counselor

REPORT UNSOLICITED ONLINE PORNOGRAPHY OR OBSCENITY

Obscenity is illegal and so is many types or porn. This service was created as a complaint reporting tooL for adults and their children who have been unintentionally exposed to pornography or ads for pornography on the Internet. Pornography DOES harm children and there are numerous porn filtering software programs you can use.

Your submitted "Obscenity Complaint" requests that the offending website be investigated and that a criminal obscenity prosecution or other legal proceeding be initiated if warranted. The information you provide will normally be forwarded to federal prosecutors.

SPEAK UP FOR CHILDREN!

Speak up for the children. Type in your zip code and you'll see your Elected Officials on Capitol Hill, how they voted on current childrens issues, and their CONTACT INFORMATION if you feel they need to hear your view on the issues below.

CHILD PREDATORS

The U.S. Department of Justice now knows how to locate and stop hundreds of thousands of child sexual predators trafficking child pornography on the web ... and how to rescue their victims. But less than two percent of these known crimes are being investigated, due to lack of resources. "We are... drowning in a tidal wave of tragedy," says Wyoming Special Agent Flint Waters, "and we don't have [legistlation]what we need to save these children. Urge your senators to support S.1738, The Combating Child Exploitation Act (House Bill HR 3845 Protect Our Children Act).

Read more about this current legistlation at "Not One More Child" . Or watch this 3 min. video, produced by www.Protect.org The National Association for Protecting Children, outlining the truth of child porn on the web. Support Legistlation Regarding Child Pornography by contacting your government representive -- simple type in your zipcode in the "Write to Congress" access portal above.

Learn More about the connection between Child Self Esteem and Safety